Biden’s root canal complete, he’s ‘doing just fine,’ White House says
Written by ABC AUDIO on June 13, 2023
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden underwent the completion of a root canal on Monday, forcing him to miss hosting a “College Athlete Day” celebration and some other meetings.
According to a memo from Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s physician, the procedure was done at the White House.
Biden did not go under general anesthesia and as such the 25th Amendment was not invoked and the president stayed in charge, the White House said.
He identified Sunday he “was experiencing some dental pain in his lower right premolar,” O’Connor wrote, and a dental team from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center came to the White House and performed an initial procedure.
There were no complications, and O’Connor reported Biden “tolerated the procedure well.”
Then, on Monday morning, Biden was “experiencing further discomfort … which was anticipated,” O’Connor said.
“The endodontal specialty team from Walter Reed will complete the president’s root canal day, at the White House,” the physician wrote.
Biden was set to host NCAA champions from the 2022-2023 season with second gentleman Doug Emhoff on the White House South Lawn.
Vice President Kamala Harris took Biden’s place at the event.
Biden last month welcomed the LSU Tiger’s women’s basketball team and UConn Huskie’s men’s basketball team to honor their national titles.
In 2008, it was reported Biden got the call that he was Barack Obama’s vice president pick while sitting in a dentists’ office as Jill Biden underwent a root canal.
The other events on Biden’s schedule for Monday, including a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and a Chiefs of Mission reception, were postponed until Tuesday.
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